Saving Africa

Numerous initiatives aimed at alleviating starvation in Africa are frequently publicized, often involving the dissemination of information. For example, respected organizations such as the Rotary Club promote series of booklets on how to better cultivate nutritious food. A fundamental challenge, however, is often overlooked by the organizers of such campaigns: a significant portion of the target population is illiterate. Consequently, the dissemination of this information, which may be of high quality in its own right, depends on literate individuals to interpret and implement the proposed methods.

This creates a critical gap, as the necessary intermediary between the information and the farmer often does not exist. This represents a central challenge in transforming agricultural practices. It appears that few International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have fully understood that the efficacy of aid is determined not by the quality of the information itself, but by the capacity of the intended beneficiaries to access and apply it.

Experience across the developing world indicates a notable lack of emphasis on providing aid in the form of agricultural extension advisors. These are the personnel who reside with farmers and guide them through implementation. A study conducted in Kenya concluded that one advisor can effectively support a maximum of one thousand farmers; exceeding this number renders the advisor unable to adequately address questions or provide guidance. The critical assistance required, therefore, is at the final stage of implementation—the "last meter"—which involves translating the best available knowledge into practical, applicable methods for farmers.

Furthermore, external organizations often fail to recognize that superior knowledge for improving farming, rooted in local context, frequently pre-exists in the target communities. The director of a prominent East African research organization has commented that the most significant contribution an aid organization could make would be to support local research centers in spreading and implementing their locally-gained knowledge. When Western organizations introduce their recommendations for improved seeds, fertilizers, and fungicides, this approach can be perceived as arrogant, reflecting a continuation of colonial-era power dynamics. The best local seeds, for instance, can often be obtained in local markets.

A more effective strategy would be for NGOs to concentrate their efforts on a limited number of locations for a prolonged period, rather than expanding their reach across numerous countries. The standard five-to-ten-year timeframe for projects supported by the World Bank and other donors is insufficient to alter agricultural traditions developed over millennia. This long-standing, traditional information is arguably superior to that which is disseminated by external bodies that lack the detailed, nuanced knowledge local populations possess regarding their own soils and range of staple produce.